They're the two frontrunners in the Republican primary. Whoever wins will run against Obama. There's also Newt Gingrich (a largely discredited asshole), and Ron Paul, who is brilliant, principled, compassionate and sincere but sadly hopelessly idealistic and completely inflexible (and losing badly).

To be honest, Mitt Romney (the rich asshole and longtime frontrunner) isn't all that bad, but he has a well-deserved reputation for being an out-of-touch flip-flopper who will say anything to get elected and contradict himself a few hours later. That's why Republicans have constantly searched for a "not-Romney" candidate, and that's partly why Santorum's doing so well now. But at least Romney's a moderate who's had experience with the economy. He's the only Republican candidate who wouldn't scare me if he beat Obama.

We have the same problem in Australia, the first ever national election for a new prime minister that I'll get to vote in will suck because I can see no one in my government with the ability to run the country.